A Kind of Affine Weighted Moment Invariants

A new kind of geometric invariants is proposed in this paper, which is called affine weighted moment invariant (AWMI). By combination of local affine differential invariants and a framework of global integral, they can more effectively extract features of images and help to increase the number of low-order invariants and to decrease the calculating cost. The experimental results show that AWMIs have good stability and distinguishability and achieve better results in image retrieval than traditional moment invariants. An extension to 3D is straightforward

Carbon monoxide inhibits Fas activating antibody-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The extrinsic apoptotic pathway initiates when a death ligand, such as the Fas ligand, interacts with its cell surface receptor (<it>ie</it>., Fas/CD95), forming a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC). The Fas-dependent apoptotic pathway has been implicated in several models of lung or vascular injury. Carbon monoxide, an enzymatic product of heme oxygenase-1, exerts antiapoptotic effects at low concentration <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using mouse lung endothelial cells (MLEC), we examined the antiapoptotic potential of carbon monoxide against apoptosis induced by the Fas/CD95-activating antibody (Jo2). Carbon monoxide was applied to cell cultures <it>in vitro</it>. The expression and/or activation of apoptosis-related proteins and signaling intermediates were determined using Western Immunoblot and co-immunoprecipitation assays. Cell death was monitored by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays. Statistical significance was determined by student T-test and a value of <it>P </it>< 0.05 was considered significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment of MLEC with Fas-activating antibody (Jo2) induced cell death associated with the formation of the DISC, and activation of caspases (-8, -9, and -3), as well as the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein Bax. Exposure of MLEC to carbon monoxide inhibited Jo2-induced cell death, which correlated with the inhibition of DISC formation, cleavage of caspases-8, -9, and -3, and Bax activation. Carbon monoxide inhibited the phosphorylation of the Fas-associated death domain-containing protein, as well as its association with the DISC. Furthermore, carbon monoxide induced the expression of the antiapoptotic protein FLIP and increased its association with the DISC.</p> <p>CO-dependent cytoprotection against Fas mediated apoptosis in MLEC depended in part on activation of ERK1/2-dependent signaling.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Carbon monoxide has been proposed as a potential therapy for lung and other diseases based in part on its antiapoptotic effects in endothelial cells. In vitro, carbon monoxide may inhibit both Fas/caspase-8 and Bax-dependent apoptotic signaling pathways induced by Fas-activating antibody in endothelial cells. Strategies to block Fas-dependent apoptotic pathways may be useful in development of therapies for lung or vascular disorders.</p

The effect of Ku on telomere replication time is mediated by telomere length but is independent of histone tail acetylation

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Study of Brain Networks Associated with Swallowing Using Graph-Theoretical Approaches

Functional connectivity between brain regions during swallowing tasks is still not well understood. Understanding these complex interactions is of great interest from both a scientific and a clinical perspective. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was utilized to study brain functional networks during voluntary saliva swallowing in twenty-two adult healthy subjects (all females, 23.1±1.52 years of age). To construct these functional connections, we computed mean partial correlation matrices over ninety brain regions for each participant. Two regions were determined to be functionally connected if their correlation was above a certain threshold. These correlation matrices were then analyzed using graph-theoretical approaches. In particular, we considered several network measures for the whole brain and for swallowing-related brain regions. The results have shown that significant pairwise functional connections were, mostly, either local and intra-hemispheric or symmetrically inter-hemispheric. Furthermore, we showed that all human brain functional network, although varying in some degree, had typical small-world properties as compared to regular networks and random networks. These properties allow information transfer within the network at a relatively high efficiency. Swallowing-related brain regions also had higher values for some of the network measures in comparison to when these measures were calculated for the whole brain. The current results warrant further investigation of graph-theoretical approaches as a potential tool for understanding the neural basis of dysphagia. © 2013 Luan et al

Pharmacokinetics of quinacrine in the treatment of prion disease

BACKGROUND: Prion diseases are caused by the accumulation of an aberrantly folded isoform of the prion protein, designated PrP(Sc). In a cell-based assay, quinacrine inhibits the conversion of normal host prion protein (PrP(C)) to PrP(Sc )at a half-maximal concentration of 300 nM. While these data suggest that quinacrine may be beneficial in the treatment of prion disease, its penetration into brain tissue has not been extensively studied. If quinacrine penetrates brain tissue in concentrations exceeding that demonstrated for in vitro inhibition of PrP(Sc), it may be useful in the treatment of prion disease. METHODS: Oral quinacrine at doses of 37.5 mg/kg/D and 75 mg/kg/D was administered to mice for 4 consecutive weeks. Plasma and tissue (brain, liver, spleen) samples were taken over 8 weeks: 4 weeks with treatment, and 4 weeks after treatment ended. RESULTS: Quinacrine was demonstrated to penetrate rapidly into brain tissue, achieving concentrations up to 1500 ng/g, which is several-fold greater than that demonstrated to inhibit formation of PrP(Sc )in cell culture. Particularly extensive distribution was observed in spleen (maximum of 100 μg/g) and liver (maximum of 400 μg/g) tissue. CONCLUSIONS: The documented extensive brain tissue penetration is encouraging suggesting quinacrine might be useful in the treatment of prion disease. However, further clarification of the distribution of both intracellular and extracellular unbound quinacrine is needed. The relative importance of free quinacrine in these compartments upon the conversion of normal host prion protein (PrP(C)) to PrP(Sc )will be critical toward its potential benefit

Efficient Performance of Electrostatic Spray-Deposited TiO2 Blocking Layers in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells after Swift Heavy Ion Beam Irradiation

A compact TiO2 layer (~1.1 μm) prepared by electrostatic spray deposition (ESD) and swift heavy ion beam (SHI) irradiation using oxygen ions onto a fluorinated tin oxide (FTO) conducting substrate showed enhancement of photovoltaic performance in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The short circuit current density (Jsc = 12.2 mA cm-2) of DSSCs was found to increase significantly when an ESD technique was applied for fabrication of the TiO2 blocking layer, compared to a conventional spin-coated layer (Jsc = 8.9 mA cm-2). When SHI irradiation of oxygen ions of fluence 1 × 1013 ions/cm2 was carried out on the ESD TiO2, it was found that the energy conversion efficiency improved mainly due to the increase in open circuit voltage of DSSCs. This increased energy conversion efficiency seems to be associated with improved electronic energy transfer by increasing the densification of the blocking layer and improving the adhesion between the blocking layer and the FTO substrate. The adhesion results from instantaneous local melting of the TiO2 particles. An increase in the electron transport from the blocking layer may also retard the electron recombination process due to the oxidized species present in the electrolyte. These findings from novel treatments using ESD and SHI irradiation techniques may provide a new tool to improve the photovoltaic performance of DSSCs

Clinical features associated with COVID-19 outcome in multiple myeloma: first results from the International Myeloma Society data set

The primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with multiple myeloma(MM) is an infection. Therefore there is great concern about the susceptibility to the outcome of COVID-19 infected patients with MM. This retrospective study describes the baseline characteristics and outcome data of COVID-19 infection in 650 patients with plasma cell disorders, collected by the International Myeloma Society to understand the initial challenges faced by myeloma patients during COVID-19 pandemic. Analysis were performed for hospitalized MM patients. Among hospitalized patinets, the median age was 69 years, and nearly all patients(96%) had MM. Approximately 36% were recently diagnosed(2019-2020), and 54% of patients were receiving first-line therapy. Thirty-three percent of patients have died, with significant geographic variability, ranging from 27% to 57% of hospitalized patients. Univariate analysis identified age, ISS3, high-risk disease, renal disease, suboptimal myeloma control(active or progressive disease), and one or more comorbidities as risk factors for higher rates of death. Neither history of transplant, including within a year of COVID-19 diagnosis, nor other anti-MM treatments were associated with outcomes. Multivariate analysis found that only age, high-risk MM, renal disease, and suboptimal MM control remained independent predictors of adverse outcome with COVID-19 infection. The management of MM in the era of COVID-19 requires careful consideration of patient and disease-related factors to decrease the risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection, while not compromising disease control through appropriate MM treatment. This study provides initial data to develop recommendations for the management of MM patients with COVID-19 infection

Indium Tin Oxide@Carbon Core–Shell Nanowire and Jagged Indium Tin Oxide Nanowire

This paper reports two new indium tin oxide (ITO)-based nanostructures, namely ITO@carbon core–shell nanowire and jagged ITO nanowire. The ITO@carbon core–shell nanowires (~50 nm in diameter, 1–5 μm in length,) were prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process from commercial ITO nanoparticles. A carbon overlayer (~5–10 in thickness) was observed around ITO nanowire core, which was in situ formed by the catalytic decomposition of acetylene gas. This carbon overlayer could be easily removed after calcination in air at an elevated temperature of 700°C, thus forming jagged ITO nanowires (~40–45 nm in diameter). The growth mechanisms of ITO@carbon core–shell nanowire and jagged ITO nanowire were also suggested